ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Prime Minister's Office
PM addresses webinar on effective implementation of Budget provisions in defence sector
India’s defence sector is moving ahead with transparency, predictability & ease of doing business: PM
Emphasis is being given to enhance manufacturing capacity in defence sector: Narendra Modi
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the webinar on effective implementation of the Union Budget provisions in the defence sector today. In his address, the Prime Minister said that the webinar assumes great significance as it is focusing on the important issue of making the country’s defence sector self-reliant.
Shri Narendra Modi said that there used to be hundreds of ordnance factories before independence. In both the world wars, weapons at large scale were exported from India. But, for many reasons, this system has not been strengthened as much as it should have been after independence.
The Prime Minister said that his government has relied on the capabilities of our engineers and scientists on developing the Tejas fighter aircraft and today Tejas is flying gracefully in the skies. A few weeks back, an order worth Rs. 48,000 crore was placed for Tejas.
He said that since 2014, it has been the government’s endeavor to move forward in this sector with transparency, predictability and ease of doing business. Shri Modi said the government has taken steps to bring about de-licensing, de-regulation, export promotion, foreign investment liberalization, etc.
The Prime Minister further said that India has made a list of 100 important items related to defence, which can be manufactured indigenously with the help of our local industries. He said a timeline has been set so that our industries can plan to meet these requirements.
He said it is called a negative list in the official language but it is a positive list in the language of self-reliance. This is the positive list on which the country’s manufacturing capacity is going to increase. This is the positive list that will generate employment in India. This is the positive list that is going to reduce India’s dependence on foreign countries for our defence needs. This is the positive list that guarantees the sale of indigenous products in India.
The Prime Minister said that a part has been reserved for domestic procurement even in the capital budget of defence. He urged the private sector to come forward and take up both designing and manufacturing of the defence equipment so that Indian flag can be kept flying high on the global stage.
He said that MSMEs work as a backbone for the entire manufacturing sector. The reforms that are taking place today are giving more freedom to MSMEs and encouragement to expand.
The Prime Minister said that the defence corridors that are being built in the country today will also help local entrepreneurs and local manufacturing. That is, today, self-sufficiency in our defence sector has to be seen as the empowerment of these two fronts – “Jawan as well as Naujawan ”.
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Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Dharmendra Pradhan Participates in Aadi Mahotsav, calls for Greater use of Tribal Products
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan participated in the Aadi Mahotsav 2019, an annual extravaganza of tribal art, culture, craft and cuisine, here today which is being organised by TRIFED. The event is witnessing participation of over 1000 tribal artisans, chefs, performers etc. from 24 States.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Pradhan said “Coming from Odisha, I have a special place in my heart for our tribal brothers and sisters. In the tribal map of our country, Odisha occupies an important place. Indian tribes are known for rich culture and heritage. Our tribal brothers and sisters have a life style which makes them closer to environment.”
Talking about the role of tribal population in energy, he said, “We must indigenise our sources of energy. Our tribal brothers and sisters can play an important role in our Bio Fuels strategy. Forest produce getting converted to energy can help us save foreign exchange and will augment income of our tribal brothers and sisters.”
Pitching for greater use of tribal products, he said, “Let us resolve to use more and more products in our daily lives which are made by our tribal brothers and sisters”. He further stated that under the leadership of hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, NDA Govt. has brought in a new paradigm of tribal welfare. “Be it Ujjwala Yojana, Saubhagya Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat or Har Ghar Jal, our tribal brothers and sisters are at the focus of our development agenda”, he added.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Ministerial dialogue of US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership  to be held on 7th October 2022
Shri Hardeep S. Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, India and Ms. Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy, USA to co-chair the dialogue
Shri Hardeep S. Puri to interact with World Bank Officials on Climate Resilient Urban Infrastructure
Shri Hardeep S. Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Housing and Urban Affairs, will lead an official and business delegation to Washington DC and Houston, USA, from 6-11 October 2022.
In Washington DC, Hon’ble Minister will co-chair the Ministerial dialogue of US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership , to be held on 7th October 2022with HE Ms. Jennifer Granholm, Secretary of Energy,USA.
The revamped USISCEP was launchedin accordance with U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and H.E. President Joe Biden at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate held in April 2021.
The partnership continues to advance energy security and innovation; scaling up emerging clean energy technologies; and deploying technical solutions through 5 pillars:
 Responsible Oil and Gas Pillar  Power and Energy Efficiency Pillar  Renewable Energy Pillar  Sustainable Growth Pillar  Emerging Fuels and technologies.
Hon’ble Minister will interact with World Bank Officials on Climate Resilient Urban Infrastructure. He will also participate in two executive roundtableswith USA India Business Council in Washington D.C. and with USA India Strategic Partnership Forum in Houston.
Hon’ble Minister will also hold discussions with CEOs of US based energy companies.
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Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Exports of Marine Products register a growth of 35% to USD 6.1 Billion during April-December 2021  as compared to USD 4.5 Billion during same period in the year 2020
In December 2021, exports of Marine Products touched USD 720.51 Million, registering a growth of 28.01% over $562.85 Mn logged in December 2020
USA , China  and Japan  among top export destinations
Sector exports is all set to exceed the all-time high of USD 7.02 Billion achieved in the FY2017-18, despite the impact of the Covid19 pandemic since January, 2020
Exports of Marine Products registered a growth of 35% to USD 6.1 Billion during April-December 2021  as compared to USD 4.5 Billion during same period in the year 2020. As compared to April-December 2019  and April-December 2014 , exports of Marine Products registered a growth of 12% and 38% respectively.
In the month of December 2021, exports of Marine Products touched USD 720.51 Million, registering a growth of 28.01% over $562.85 Mn logged in December 2020.
The overall exports of Marine Products in the last Financial Year  was USD 5.96 Billion, and with USD 6.11 Billion scaled during the first three Quarters of FY2021-22, the sector is very likely to exceed the all-time high of USD 7.02 Billion exports achieved in the FY2017-18, despite the impact of the Covid19 pandemic since January, 2020.
Top 5 export destinations in April-November 2021  are: USA , China , Japan , Vietnam  & Thailand . Frozen shrimps constitute the major share in India’s Marine Products exports items with 74% share in value terms ; Frozen Fish , Others  and Frozen Squid  constitute the other major items in the Marine Products exports basket in FY2020-21. Others category included primarily Surimi and Surimi analogue  products.
Several exports promotion schemes for Fisheries have been implemented by the Marine Products Export Development Authority , a statutory body set up in 1972 under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry for promotion of export of marine products from India. The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana  in May 2020 with an array of 100 diverse activities. With a budget of Rs. 20,050 crore, it is by far the largest investment to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India. PMMSY, being implemented over a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories, has set a target of Rs. 1,00,000 crore fisheries export, additional 70 lakh tonnes fish production, and generation of 55 lakh employment in the years to come.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
CAPE SIZE VESSEL CALLS AT SAGAR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF KOLKATA PORT
Kolkata, 08.06.2021
The historical milestone was achieved at its zenith on 8th June, 2021 when ‘M.V. LAKE D’, First Cape Vessel Panama Flag arrived at Sagar Anchorage which is 80 Miles away from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata  and 25 Miles away from Haldia Dock Complex .
‘M.V. LAKE D’ one of the largest Cape Vessel of its kind with 66,000 MT of Steam Coal cargo bound for Nepal, built in 2011 is manned by 20 Filipino crew was anchored at Sagar. The vessel sailed from Abbot Point, Australia on 10th May 2021 and enroute took fuel at Singapore. There after discharging about 95,810 MT of cargo at Vishakhapatnam, vessel sailed for Sagar anchorage.
SMP Kolkata is having constraint of draft in the channel and lock gate operation in the docks. By doing lighterage operation with this vessel which has a very wide beam and can carry higher parcel load in draft of 9.2 metre. The cargo ship will go directly to a floating jetty, thus lock gate operation will be avoided and barges can go fully at any time & discharge at Haldia floating Terminal. An investment of Rs.170 crores has been done for floating crane and floating jetty. It has been an endeavour by the Port to encourage Trade to mobilize full load vessel especially Cape vessel for bringing cargo for Haldia Dock.
Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, SMP, Kolkata stated that the arrival of ‘M.V. Lake D’ is significant, not only for being the 1st Cape vessel at Sagar, but also for carrying 66,000 MT of cargo which otherwise would have been carried in 2-3 separate vessels. Alternatively, this quantity could have been carried in one vessel which would have had to discharge half cargo at Vizag Port and carry the remainder to SMP.
Because of this substantial growth of lighterage operation, coupled with the multi-dimensional user-friendly measures like better service, improved facilities, cost-effective customer-friendly charges and effective co-ordination among other relevant agencies, Kolkata Port Trust as a whole will be able to handle more than 65 million tones of cargo during 2021-22.
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Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises
KVIC Distributes 1000 Bee Boxes, 100 Pottery Wheels and Leather Kits in Agartala
To commemorate 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and to support the weaker section of the society in Agartala, Khadi and Village Industries Commission  organized a distribution of 1000 Bee Boxes, 100 Pottery Wheels and 100 Advanced Leather Tool kits 100 Farmers, 100 Potters and 100 Leather Artisans recently in which Chief Minister of Tripura Shri Biplab Kumar Deb was Chief Guest, in presence of Chairman, KVIC Shri VK Saxena.
Complementing the efforts of KVIC, Chief Minister Shri Deb expressed hope that, this mega equipment distribution and Capacity Building drive will create a livelihood and will provide employment to 700 people. He further said that programs like Honey Mission, Empowerment of Leather Artisans and Kumhar Sashaktikaran Mission will not only instill self-confidence but give a much required boost to strengthen the weaker section of the society. It is an endeavor to reach out to the maximum number of people and help them achieve a life of respect and dignity.
Shri Saxena said, “Aligned with the vision of Prime Minister, our endeavor is to provide livelihood opportunities as well as alternate source of income to the rural farmers and other artisans, who otherwise adopt to menial labor or migrate to big towns or cities for daily wage jobs. The objective of this event is not only to empower the rural artisans and help them gain confidence in bee keeping, pottery and leather artistry, but also improve their quality of life. Tripura has a lot of potential of Bee Keeping and Pottery because of large scale cultivation of rubber plants and use of traditional terracotta products in their households.”
The event witnessed a huge turnout of artisans from nearby districts of Agartala. Nearly 20% of the beneficiaries of the equipment distribution were women, and around 80% of the total beneficiaries belonged to the marginalized communities.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves merger / amalgamation of National Institute of Miners' Health with ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approvedto dissolve National Institute of Miners' Health , an autonomous Institute under Ministry of Mines  and merge / amalgamate with ICMR-National Institute of Occupational Health , Ahmedabad, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare  with all assets and liabilities; and absorb all the employees of NIMH in NIOH in the similar post/pay scale as the case may be and their pay be protected. NIMH, ICMR, NIOH, MoM and Department of Health Research , MoH&FW to take actions required for effecting dissolution and merger/amalgamation of NIMH with NIOH.
Impact:
The merger / amalgamation of NIMH with NIOH will prove beneficial to both the Institutes in term of enhanced expertise in the field of occupational health besides the efficient management of public money.
Background:
NIMH was set up by Government of India in 1990 and registered as a Society under the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960. The registered office of NIMH is located at Kolar Gold Fields, Karnataka and the Central Laboratory in Nagpur. The Institute conducts applied research in occupational health and hygiene and specializes in providing technical support services to mining and mineral based industry with special reference to metalliferous sector and endeavors for safe mines and healthy miners through research & development.
The focus areas of NIOH include a vast array of areas related to occupational health which also includes, occupational medicine and occupational hygiene. In the context of review of working and performance of autonomous institutes, Expenditure Management Commission recommended, inter-alia, that- "Organisations with similar objectives can be considered for merger to encourage synergy in operations and reduction in cost". Accordingly, recommended merger of NIMH with NIOH.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Health Ministry to rush Central teams to UP, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha
Central teams to assist in strengthening Containment, Surveillance, Testing and efficient Clinical management
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has decided to deploy high level Central teams to four States of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. These States are seeing a sudden surge in the number of COVID cases and some of them are also reporting high mortality.
The teams will support the State efforts towards strengthening containment, surveillance, testing and efficient clinical management of the positive cases. They shall also guide the States in effectively managing the challenges related to timely diagnosis and follow up.
Each of the multi-sectoral teams will comprise of an epidemiologist and a public health expert.
Of these four States, Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of active cases pegged at 54,666, followed by Odisha , Chhattisgarh  and Jharkhand which has 11,577 active cases. In terms of total/cumulative cases till date, Uttar Pradesh has 2,25,632, Odisha , Jharkhand  and Chhattisgarh has 30,092 cases. The most number of deaths are reported in Uttar Pradesh  while Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are reporting 482, 410 and 269 deaths cumulatively.
As an ongoing effort, the Central Government has been deputing Central teams from time to time to visit various States to interact with the authorities and get a first hand understanding of the challenges and issues being faced by them so as to strengthen their ongoing activities and remove bottlenecks, if any.
Ministry of Railways
Maintenance of Railway Stations
All Stations including small stations over Indian Railways are maintained as per the laid down norms. Need based maintenance is ensured on all stations for proper upkeep.
Further, maintenance/improvement of Railway Stations is an ongoing and continuous process and works in this regard are undertaken as per requirement and subject to inter-se priority and availability of funds.
Ministry of Railways are providing passenger amenities as per scheme specified in the comprehensive instructions on Minimum Essential Amenities for passengers, based on the category of the station. The recent instructions were issued in 2018.
The details of funds allocated under Budgetary Sources for providing Passenger Amenities, over Indian Railways during the last five years i.e.2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and current year 2020-21 are as under:-

|
|
Financial Year
|
|
Actual Expenditure
|
|
2015-16
|
|
1081.21
|
|
2016-17
|
|
981.25
|
|
2017-18
|
|
1286.81
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|
2018-19
|
|
1585.89
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|
2019-20
|
|
1903.11
|
|
2020-21
|
|
1646.94

This information was given by the Minister of Railways, Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Shri Piyush Goyal in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
Department of Space
Setting Up Dedicated Cells in IITs in Collaboration with ISRO
ISRO has set up 5 Space Technology Cells  at premier institutions like Indian Institute of Technologies  - Bombay, Kanpur, Kharagpur & Madras; Indian Institute of Science , Bengaluru and Joint Research Programme with Savitribai Phule Pune University  to carry out research activities in the areas of space technology and applications.
ISRO desires development of high end technology in collaboration with IITs in the areas of Space Science, Space Technology and Space Applications.
ISRO would fund the identified projects.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State  Development of North-Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Power
PFC in association with Department of Official Language, Ministry of Home Affairs organised technical workshop on Kanthasth and Hindi e-tools
Power Finance Corporation, one of India’s leading NBFC in power sector and a PSU under Ministry of Power, organised a technical workshop on Kanthasth  and Hindi e-tools yesterday at Urjanidhi, headquarters of PFC. The workshop was organised in association with Department of Official Languagae, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
The workshop was inaugurated by Dr SumeetJerath, IAS, Secretary , Dr.Meenakshi Jolly, Joint Secretary , Shri BabuLalMeena, Director , Shri Rajesh Srivastava, Deputy Director  in presence of Shri Ravinder Singh Dhillon, CMD, PFC along with Shri Praveen Kumar Singh, Director , PFC, SmtParminder Chopra, Director , PFC and Shri R. Murahari, Executive Director , PFC were present during the workshop. During the workshop, Shri R. Murahari and Shri Kewal Krishna, Senior Advisor, PFC explained the importance of Kanthasth and Hindi e-tools respectively. Around 50 personnel from various departments of Government of India, banks and paramilitary forces benefitted from the technical workshop.
Ministry of Culture
A digital interactive exhibition on Nationalism from the soil of Bengal inaugurated at National Library.
Kolkata, March 08, 2019
An exhibition on Nationalism from the soil of Bengal was inaugurated by Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi, Governor of West Bengal at the Belvedere House, National Library in Kolkata today.
Established by the National Library, Union Ministry of Culture, and designed and developed by the team of Expression Ad Agency Pvt Ltd and Tagbin Services Pvt Ltd, this digital, interactive exhibition aims to enlighten the youth of the inspiring lifetimes of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose and Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, and their unforgettable contribution to the freedom struggle against British Imperialism.
The Indian Museum, Kolkata also curated an exhibition linking the past titled “Story of India through Images and Symbols” at the Belvedere House, National Library. The Exhibition is a collection of archeological artifacts of stone images depicting Gautama Buddha, Lord Mahaveera, Bhagvan Vishnu, Bhagvan Shiva Shakti and symbols like Yantra, Lotus Feet of Buddha, Ashoka Chakra, etc.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves transfer of land and building belonging to Department of Posts at Thrissur  in Kerala to Thrissur Municipal Corporation for widening of Pattalam Road
Cabinet approves transfer of land and building belonging to Department of Posts at Thrissur  in Kerala to Thrissur Municipal Corporation for widening of Pattalam Road
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved transfer of 16.5 cents of land and building belonging to Department of Posts at Thrissur in Kerala to Thrissur Municipal Corporation for widening of Pattalam Road, in public interest on the principle of land in exchange of land.
The Department of Posts will get an equal area of land of 16.5 cents which is about 200 metres away from the existing Thrissur Central Post Office. The Thrissur Municipal Corporation will also construct a Post Office having a built up area of 3500 sq.feet, as per the specifications of Department of Posts including compound wall with two gates at their own cost. This proposal of the Thrissur Municipal Corporation related to widening of the existing Pattalam road, to have accident-free movement of traffic, will benefit people of the area.
The proposal under consideration will benefit the people in the locality to travel freely without any traffic block and within a short time through the Pattalam Road in front of the existing Thrissur Central Post Office.
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles demise of noted writer Professor G. Venkatasubbaiah
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the demise of noted writer Professor G. Venkatasubbaiah.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Demise of Professor G. Venkatasubbaiah has left a huge void in Kannada literature. He was a prolific writer and thinker who made many efforts to popularise Kannada. He was passionate about his work and inspired many youngsters. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti."